Wisteria

 

LOVE - From a child’s point of view: “When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So, my grandfather does it for her all the time, even after his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” * “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know your name is safe with their mouth.” * “Love is when someone hurts you and you get so mad; but you don’t yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings.” * “Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” * “Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.” * “You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it; and you should say it a lot.”

Wisteria is beautiful. Despite its beauty, though, wisteria can be an invasive vine if it is not carefully cultivated, becoming genteel kudzu. As I had to go to a doctor’s appointment in Gainesville, Georgia, yesterday, I noted how much wisteria grows around that city. For the most part, it was not managed well. Thus, you would see azalea bushes or maple trees with purple flowers choking them out. However, if you take the time to train the vine, you can make a stunning addition to your garden with wisteria. One popular way of taming wisteria is having it run along an arbor creating a tunneled walkway through the blooms.

We have other things around us that act a lot like wisteria. These are things having the potential to be something helpful or enjoyable, but which end up being deleterious to our spiritual health because we do not manage them well.

Becoming distracted by doing good is one such type of spiritual wisteria. When Jesus was with his dear friends in Bethany, Martha wearied herself seeking to be an excellent hostess. She asked Jesus to rebuke her sister, Mary, for not helping her prepare. Since Mary was listening to Jesus teach, He said she was doing what was necessary (Luke 10:39-42). It is a good thing to be hospitable. We note that the need to be hospitable is one of the qualifications for an elder (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8). However, one’s priority is the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). Thus, even in having a desire to do a good thing, one may be overwhelmed and end up missing out on opportunities for spiritual growth.

Social media is another type of spiritual wisteria. During the 2020 period of social distancing, I’ve noted how many more brothers in Christ are utilizing Facebook and YouTube to put out encouraging and convicting lessons from God’s Word. Congregations are streaming “virtual worship services” for homebound people to participate in. It excites me that we might be seeing the beginnings of the “Third Great Awakening” in the United States as people realize they have ways of expressing their faith which has nothing to do with a building. Even so, I note that with people using social media even more now (if such a thing is possible) it likewise gives rise to a lot of things that ultimately detract from spiritual growth. People are also posting depressing or rancorous things. You still see lewd jokes and double entendres. We need to ensure that our use of social media at this tend helps us to serve as salt and light in this world so God can be glorified (Matthew 5:13-16).

[1 Corinthians 9:24-27] You may have noted other types of spiritual wisteria I have not included. We want to emphasize that this “wisteria” in and of itself is not a bad thing. It is, rather, that a failure to discipline ourselves allows for this good thing to lessen its value.  You must put forward the effort to properly utilize and enjoy physical and spiritual wisteria. You must do the same thing when it comes to cultivating a beautiful, spiritual garden pleasing to God. Brent Pollard

Your love and beauty is needed during worship.

Jesus, Our Risen Savior

 

There have been many artistic renderings of the Emmaus story (Luke 24:13-31), but one of the most famous is “Supper at Emmaus” by Caravaggio. In this painting, Jesus dominates the scene. All the geometric lines in the painting’s design point to him. Caravaggio captures the dramatic high point of the story — the moment, after Jesus has broken the bread, when “their eyes [the disciples] were opened and they recognized him.” There is surprise in the posture of the two disciples. One has thrown his arms open in astonishment, and the other is pushing his chair back from the table, abruptly standing up. If you could trace a line from the eyes of the two disciples, the sightlines would direct you to Jesus’ hands, to the very place where the scars of the nails would have been visible. But they’re not visible. Two fingers on Jesus' right hand are discreetly folded back, covering up the wound. The man to the right can see it, but we can’t. As for Jesus’ other hand, it’s angled away and swathed in shadow. The other man appears to be looking directly at it, but again, we can’t see the scar from our perspective.

There’s an empty place at the table, at the foreground. It’s almost as though there’s another chair, just out of the frame of the picture. There’s another place at the table. Whose is it? The place is ours! The artist is inviting us right into the painting, to take our place at the supper table and share the disciples’ astonishment. A fruit basket at the front of the table is balanced precariously on the edge. It’s a silent invitation: Come and eat. But remember this: Unlike the two disciples in the painting, we can’t see Jesus’ wounds. We are not first-hand witnesses to the resurrection and never can be. Yet the artist invites us to take our place at the table, all the same. We experience the resurrection in a different way than the disciples: by faith! —Timothy Merrill

[Acts 4:5-12] And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." NKJV

Savior? From what? Savior from sin! All deeds done and words spoken in conflict with God’s will – forgiven. All attitudes and feelings contrary to the will of the Lord – forgiven. How? Where? In Jesus Christ. It is not enough to see Jesus as good or just a teacher. We must see Him as Savior and Lord of our life. It is only in and through Jesus that sin can be forgiven. Appreciation of Jesus as our Savior gives us reason and motive to want Him to be our Lord. Understanding of Him as the only Savior gives us reason to be faithful and obedient to Him. Recognizing Jesus as our Savior reminds us of why we give Him all priority in the church and in our life. We need to hear, believe, and acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Lord many times over throughout our life to remind us of His love for us.

While the church proclaims this truth, we must individually embrace it. My salvation comes only from the One designated by God to be my Savior – Jesus my Lord (Acts 2:36).

Growing In Faith

 

Some parades are planned; others are spontaneous. For example, the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena are planned parades. A ton of preparation goes into these parades. Yet, other parades, by comparison, are spontaneous. Take, for example, the parade that is put together when a football team wins a state or national championship. Within days, plans for a parade materialize. This team may not be a winner again for many years. In both types of parades, however, crowds line the streets. Perhaps you’ve been in such a crowd. Sometimes, confetti drizzles down like rain from the windows of skyscrapers, like those on Broadway in New York. The cheering might be so loud, it makes any chance of a conversation impossible. On Palm Sunday, we remember that Jesus was in a parade — a spontaneous one. It wasn’t planned, and in fact, for transportation, all they had for Jesus was a little donkey! People waved palm branches and cheered. For one day, Jesus was a real celebrity. Yet how quickly the mood changed! Within days, Jesus was taken from his admirers, betrayed and seized by his enemies. Today, I am dismayed that Jesus had to endure a phony trial. I wonder where all his supporters went. And I wonder: Would I, too, have abandoned Jesus in the hour of his death? Would I be brave enough today to stand up for Jesus? Do I willingly act as a peacemaker? Am I the first to identify with someone who is different and lonely? Do I do what is right, even if it is not the popular viewpoint? —Melanie Silva

[Romans 19:17] “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Christians, in some ways, are like anyone else. We all tend to become lax about matters that should be basic and indispensable. It is like eating well. Anyone can learn how proper nutrition works and can even begin to do what it requires. But there is always the human characteristic to revert back to old behavior, even when we know it is not good for us.

Daily Bible reading is like this. Within the heart of every Christian, we know that the life-stream of our faith is the Word of God. If we did not know that we would not even be a Christian. Somewhere in our history we had to have read or heard the Word, or we would not have come to believe in Jesus and His gospel. Like so many other healthy behaviors, however, over time, we become careless and abandon our healthy regiment.

Do we remember how important faith is? Can we recall that it is “…the victory that has overcome the world…” (1 John 5:4)? Do we still know that it is the very foundation of all Christian virtues (2 Peter 1:5-8)? Do we still live by the rules “…without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Hebrews 11:6) and “…The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17)? From the opening of the Bible to its closing, faith is at the core of everything we are to do as Christians. All would have to agree on that. But faith does not happen solely by prayer. Faith is not supernaturally poured out upon us nor does it come by simply force of will. We have to “learn” faith. It comes only by a continuous flow of the Word into our mind – no other way.

Those reading this article might think that a preacher like me would always be strong in faith. Not so! To build faith I have to read and listen to the Word as a powerful effort toward self-growth and not just to prepare a lesson or sermon. A preacher has to build on his faith just like any other Christian to keep it strong, healthy, and growing. He too must spend time in the Bible, especially when his faith waivers. There are many Bible reading schedules available to assist anyone in a daily feeding on God’s Word. Spend 30 minutes each day and see how strong and healthy your faith can become. (Colossians 2:6-7)

Precious Time

 

Four high school boys afflicted with spring fever skipped their morning classes. After lunch they reported to the teacher that their tardiness was due to a flat tire. Much to their relief she smiled and said, “Well, you missed a test today so take seats apart from one another and take out a piece of paper.” Still smiling, she waited for them to sit down. Then she said, “First question: Which tire was flat?”

It was statesman Benjamin Franklin who said, “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” What is time? Einstein said it is what the clock read. There is solar time, atomic time, daytime, nighttime, local time, good times, and old times. The Bible says that Felix waited for a “more convenient time” (Acts 24:25). Paul wrote that “now is the accepted time” (2 Corinthians 6:2), and that “time is short” (1 Corinthians 7:29). James wrote “life is a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). Every birthday is a milestone of the relentless march of time and a reminder that we are quickly passing through the sands of this world.

[Psalm 103:15-18] “As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.”

We have learned that we can never go back, only forward in time. Time comes from God, though God Himself lives outside the boundaries of time. “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). Time began when God created the universe – “God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:5). God created the stars in their courses that determines our hours, days, months, and years (Genesis 1:14-18). As the One who has control over time, God gives it out to us a moment at a time. Someday, we shall stand before God and turn in, as it were, a timecard accounting for how we have used our God-given gifts to His glory (1 Corinthians 4:2; Luke 16:2). Are we good stewards of the “time” we have been given by God? We should say with Moses, “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

We are to look to Jesus for our example (1 Peter 2:2). Jesus was never too busy, and He did not waste time. He always took time to pray and meditate (Luke 9:18), to go to worship services (Luke 4:16), to give attention to the sick (Galatians 6:9), to rest ((Luke 8:22-25), to give attention to the children (Matthew 19:13-14), and even found time to attend social events, such as the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-10). Jesus is certainly the example we should imitate. Jesus was master over His time, and we should ever strive to be the same. “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5: 15-16). We should learn to prioritize the things in our life, so that, our ultimate goal is fulfilled – to bring glory and honor to God through our service and daily offering (Romans 12:1-2). “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Life is like a clock: The hands of time go only forward, never backward. Life is unlike a film: It can never be rerun for a second showing. Life is unlike an automobile: It has no reverse gear. Life is unlike a pencil: You cannot erase your mistakes. (Proverbs 19:23).

A Forgiving Glow

 

Did anyone ever tell you that you were “positively glowing”? It’s a common expression. When you see someone extremely happy, or perhaps at peace, you might say that they are glowing or simply “beaming” with delight. When actors or athletes win an important award, they appear to be glowing with understandable pride. Parents are glowing with pride as they watch their children perform in a schoolhouse play. Other people are known for a “sunny disposition.” So, what’s going on with these references to light when talking about someone’s happy face? People can’t actually glow, can they? While “glowing” is perhaps a figurative way to express the joy on one’s face, could it be literally true? Yes! According to one source, “the human body literally glows, emitting a visible light in extremely small quantities at levels that rise and fall with the day. … Past research has shown that the body emits visible light, 1,000 times less intense than the levels to which our naked eyes are sensitive.” I think that when we spend quality time with someone, even if that Someone is God, we feel happy, and that happiness causes our inner light, our “happy light,” to glow even brighter. You can’t spend too much time in the presence of God without getting a little glow. Moses certainly got his glow! And Jesus on the mountain of the Transfiguration did, too. You don’t need a mountain to start glowing. All you need is a little time with Jesus! —Timothy Merrill

Scientific findings have also confirmed what we Christians have known all along. An unforgiving, grudge-holding spirit is not in our best interest. According to a report heralded by Newsweek, more than 1,200 published studies have now been conducted on   the subject and the results are both consistent and conclusive: “…increased blood pressure and hormonal changes – linked to cardiovascular disease, immune suppression and possibly impaired neurological function and memory” are the “specific physiologic consequences” of unforgiveness.

One researcher, Everett Worthington, uses language even I can understand. “It happens down the line, but every time you feel unforgiveness, you are more likely to develop a health problem.” Dr. Dean Ornish goes even further. “In a way,” he says, “the most selfish thing you can do for yourself is to forgive other people.”

[Matthew 5:7] It seems the Bible has been right all along: “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.” “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). “…putting on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:12-14). “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).

I once heard of an epitaph upon a headstone of an unkempt, long-forgotten grave which read, “Died of Grudgitus.” No doubt many death certificates could accurately list “Grudgitus” as a contributing cause of death. Have you ever heard someone snarl, through clinched teeth, “I’ll get even with them if it’s the last thing I ever do?” “If it possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord (Romans 12:17-19). Don’t make yourself sick. Forgive, and glow with God’s love.